Council de-merger question revealed

The Queensland Local Government Minister has revealed the question to be asked in next month's de-amalgamation referendum in the former Livingstone shire.

David Crisafulli says residents in the former council area will be asked to vote 'yes' or 'no' in the compulsory ballot on March 9 to decide whether to split from the Rockhampton Regional Council.

He says the question spells out that the re-formed councils would have to meet the costs of de-amalgamation.

The question is, 'Should Livingstone Shire Council be created by the de-amalgamation of the Rockhampton Regional Council local government area, with the costs to be met by the Livingstone Shire Council?'

Mr Crisafulli says while Queensland Treasury Corporation costings of the potential split are rock solid, he has decided not to include them on the ballot paper.

"Had I done that people could have rightly said ... 'you're just trying to scare people off'," he said.

"I think people, we'll certainly be letting people know that.

"We'll certainly be making people aware of all the facts but on referendum day people can rightly say well a council can do all sorts of things to try and look for opportunities to make savings. Others will argue that it can cost more to do things."

The Queensland Treasury Corporation has previously found that the initial cost to part ways will be about $10 million.